Operation starts to fly dead home

The Australian Government has rushed six defence force refrigeration units to Bali to help preserve the remains of Australians killed in the attack.

The units, normally used to house perishable goods used by the defence force in field operations, were flown to Denpasar on air force Hercules flights.

The task of transporting the dead home could begin today, after the government employed Qantas and an international company specialising in disaster mortician work to conduct the operation.

To ease the pressure on traumatised Australian families searching for loved ones in Bali, the Government has also agreed to pay relatives' airfares, departure taxes and passport costs. Prime Minister John Howard said the Kenyon International Emergency Services company was best qualified to organise the repatriation of Australian victims.

Defence Force spokesman Brigadier Mike Hannan said the refrigeration units were about 3x3x3 metres and contained their own power generators.

Mr Howard said: "The government will pay the entire cost of the repatriation back to Australia of the remains of all the (Australian) people killed. We will also pay the costs of any Australians who need to go to Bali in order to assist with identification, although it is my understanding that the great bulk of the identification has occurred either in concert with people who are already there, or on the basis of dental records or DNA."

To help the under-resourced Bali health system, the government has also made a $300,000 donation, as well as providing IV fluids, analgesics, bandages and blood.

The Australian Federal Police and ASIO have established a joint strike team, based in Canberra, to coordinate all investigations into the bombing.

All AFP state offices have also established major incident rooms to oversee questioning of holidaymakers who have returned from Bali.

The Chairman of the Australasian Victim Identification Committee, superintendent Andy Telfer of South Australian police, said 15 medical and dental specialists were at a mortuary in Bali.

About 200 mutilated bodies lie piled up in a makeshift morgue at Denpaser's Sanglah hospital.